Method for executing user command according to spatial movement of user input device and image apparatus thereof

ABSTRACT

An electronic device including a display, a receiver to receive, from an input device, a first information about a movement of the input device and a second information indicating whether a predetermined button on the input device is pressed, and a controller to control the display to display a plurality of visual guide items representing a plurality of functions of the electronic device for guide a user how to move the input device to select a function among the plurality of functions, determine a movement direction of a pointing position while the predetermined button of the input device is pressed based on the first and the second information, detecting whether the predetermined button is released based on the second information and in response to the detecting that the predetermined button is released, executing a function among the plurality of functions based on the movement direction of the pointing position and displaying a visual guide item among the plurality of visual guide items corresponding to the executed function in a highlight state.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No.13/965,828, filed on Aug. 13, 2013, in the U.S. Patent and TrademarkOffice, which is a continuation application of U.S. patent applicationSer. No. 13/189,134, filed on Jul. 22, 2011, in the U.S. Patent andTrademark Office, which is a divisional application of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/937,520, filed on Nov. 9, 2007, in the U.S.Patent and Trademark Office and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 8,015,508, whichclaims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2007-0032476,filed on Apr. 2, 2007, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, thecontents of which are incorporated herein by reference in theirentireties.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate toexecuting a user command, and more particularly, to executing a usercommand which is inputted through a user input device.

2. Description of the Related Art

An image apparatus such as a television (TV) requires a user to input acommand by manipulating a key on the remote control device, whichinconveniences the user.

An image apparatus provides many functions, and the number of functionscontinuously increases. The number of keys on the remote control alsoincreases to keep up with the multi-functionization of an electronicdevice, as an additional key is required for each new function.

The size of the remote control is also increased as the number of keysincreases. Considering users' preference for a more compact remotecontrol, a method for inputting a desired command without manipulating akey is needed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention overcome the abovedisadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, thepresent invention is not required to overcome the disadvantagesdescribed above, and an exemplary embodiment of the present inventionmay not overcome any of the problems described above.

The present invention provides a method for executing a user commandbased on a spatial movement of a user input device and an imageapparatus using the same, according to which a user command is inputtedwithout requiring a key manipulation.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided amethod for executing a user command including determining a direction ofmovement of a user input device which is movable by a user; selectingone of a plurality of functions based on the determined direction ofmovement; and executing the selected function.

The determining may determine the direction and distance of movement ofthe user input device, and the selecting may be based on the determineddirection of movement if the distance of movement of the user inputdevice exceeds a predetermined distance; while a function is notselected if the distance of movement of the user input device is withinthe predetermined distance.

The selecting may be based on the determined direction of movement if auser moves the user input device while keeping a key on the user inputdevice in a depressed state.

The executing may include reiteratively executing the selected functionif the selected function is a reiteratively operable function and theuser keeps the key in the depressed state; and interrupting operation ofthe selected function if the user releases the key from the depressedstate.

The executing may include reiteratively executing the selected functionif the selected function is a reiteratively operable function and theuser keeps the selected function in a selected state; and interruptingoperation of the selected function if the selected function is releasedfrom the selected state by moving the user input device.

The selecting may select one of the plurality of functions based on thedetermined direction of movement if a user moves the user input devicewhile keeping a key on the user input device in a depressed state, andthe selecting may execute the selected function if the user releases thekey from the depressed state.

The determining may determine the direction and distance of movement ofthe user input device, and the selecting may select one of the pluralityof functions based on the determined direction and the determineddistance of movement of the user input device.

The method may further include displaying items which visually representthe plurality of functions on respective areas of a display.

The selected function may include one of a broadcast channel changefunction, a volume change function, an input source selection function,a mode selection function, a screen brightness adjust function, and anitem selection function.

The selecting may include selecting a function which increases abroadcast channel number, if the user input device is moved in anupwards direction; selecting a function which reduces the broadcastchannel number, if the user input device is moved in a downwardsdirection; selecting a function which reduces a volume, if the userinput device is moved in a leftwards direction; and selecting a functionwhich increases the volume, if the user input device is moved in arightwards direction.

The user input device may include a remote control device, and a face ofthe remote control device may be movable by the user.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan image apparatus including a receiver which receives information abouta direction of movement of a user input device from the user inputdevice; and a controller which determines the direction of movement ofthe user input device based on information received from the receiver,selects one of a plurality of functions based on the determineddirection of movement, and executes the selected function.

The controller may determine the direction and a distance of movement ofthe user input device based on the information received from thereceiver, and if the determined distance of movement of the user inputdevice exceeds a distance, the controller selects one of the pluralityof functions based on the determined direction of the movement, whilethe controller does not execute any function if the determined distanceof movement of the user input device is within the distance.

If the user moves the user input device while keeping a key in adepressed state, the controller may select one of the plurality offunctions based on the determined direction of movement.

If the selected function is a reiteratively operable function, and theuser keeps the key in the depressed state, the controller may cause theselected function to be reiteratively operated, and if the user releasesthe key from the depressed state, the controller may cause the operationof the selected function to be interrupted.

If the selected function is a reiteratively operable function, and theselected function is manipulated in the selected state, the controllermay cause the selected function to be reiteratively operated, and if theselected function is released from the selected state by moving the userinput device, the controller may cause the operation of the selectedfunction to be interrupted.

If the user moves the user input device while keeping a key in adepressed state, the controller may select one of the plurality offunctions based on the determined direction of movement, and if the userreleases the key from the depressed state, the controller may cause theoperation of the selected function to be interrupted.

The controller may also determine a distance of movement of the userinput device based on the information received from the receiver, andselect one of the plurality of functions based on the determineddirection and the determined distance of the movement of the user inputdevice.

The image apparatus may also include a generator which generates visualinformation to be displayed on a display, wherein the controllercontrols the generator such that items which visually represent theplurality of functions are displayed in different areas of the display.

The function may include a broadcast channel change function, a volumechange function, an input source selection function, a mode selectionfunction, a screen brightness adjust function, or an item selectionfunction.

If the user input device is moved in an upwards direction, thecontroller may select a function which increases a broadcast channelnumber; if the user input device is moved in a downwards direction, thecontroller may select a function which reduces the broadcast channelnumber; if the user input device is moved in a leftwards direction, thecontroller may select a function which reduces a volume; and if the userinput device is moved in a rightwards direction, the controller mayselect a function which increases the volume.

The user input device may include a remote control device, and a face ofthe remote control device may be movable by the user.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provideda method for executing a user command, including determining a positionof a pointer which is moved on a display based on a movement of a userinput device; selecting one of a plurality of functions based on theposition of the pointer; and executing the selected function.

The pointer may be a virtual pointer which does not exist on thedisplay.

The method may further include displaying items which visually representthe plurality of functions on different areas of the display.

The display may be divided into a plurality of areas, and the selectedfunction may be assigned to an area on which the pointer is positioned.

The display may be divided into a plurality of areas, and no functionmay be selected if the pointer is positioned on the center of thedisplay; and a function which is assigned to an area on which thepointer is positioned may be selected if the pointer is positioned outof the center of the display.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is providedan image system including a user input device which is moved by a user;and an image apparatus which determines a position of a pointer which ismoved on a display based on a spatial movement of the user input device,selects one of a plurality of functions based on the position of thepointer, and executes the selected function.

The pointer may be a virtual pointer which does not exist on thedisplay.

The image apparatus may display items which visually represent theplurality of functions on the different areas of the display.

The display may be divided into a plurality of areas, and the imageapparatus may select a function which is assigned to an area on whichthe pointer is positioned.

The display may be divided into a plurality of areas, and if the pointeris positioned on the center of the display, the image apparatus does notselect any one of a plurality of functions; and if the pointer ispositioned out of the center of the display, the image apparatus selectsa function which is assigned to an area on which the pointer ispositioned.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects of the invention will become apparent andmore readily appreciated from the following description of exemplaryembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing figuresof which:

FIGS. 1A to 1C are views illustrating a broadcast receiving system inaccordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a detailed block diagram of a digital television (DTV) and aremote control;

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for executing a command of auser according to a process of executing an operation selected by aspatial movement of a remote control, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 4A to 4C are views illustrating a method for executing a commandof a user;

FIGS. 5A to 5D are views illustrating another exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention; and

FIGS. 6 to 9 are views illustrating yet another exemplary embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now bedescribed in greater detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1A is a view illustrating a broadcast receiving system according toan exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1A,a broadcast receiving system comprises a DTV 100 as a broadcastreceiving apparatus and a remote control 200 as a user input apparatus.

The DTV 100 provides a user with a broadcast received over wire orwirelessly, through a display D. Additionally, the DTV 100 may provide auser with an external input received from an external apparatus which isconnected over wire or wirelessly, through the display D, and may alsoprovide a user with a broadcast by reproducing a file, such as a movingimage file, a still image file, or a music file, which is stored in abuilt-in storage medium.

The remote control 200 sends information about the manipulation of theuser to the DTV 100, and the DTV 100 operates according to the receivedinformation. Although the remote control 200 of FIG. 1A includes aplurality of keys, the remote control 200 may include either one or twokeys. A plurality of keys are provided on the top side of the remotecontrol 200, but the plurality of keys may be provided on the othersides, such as the left or right side, or the bottom side.

As indicated by a dotted arrow in FIG. 1A, the face of the remotecontrol 200 may be moved by the user in an upwards or downwardsdirection, or to the left or right, or in a direction combining two ofthese directions, such as an upper-leftwards direction. That is, theface of the remote control 200 may be moved in any direction.

For example, the face of the remote control 200 may be moved whiledrawing a locus on a virtual plane (VP) which is parallel to a screen ofthe display D. FIG. 1B is a view illustrating a case in which the faceof the remote control 200 is moved to the left direction while drawinglocus on a virtual plane which is parallel to the screen of the displayD.

The VP may not be completely parallel to the screen of the display D,and may not be a complete plane. That is, it is practically impossiblefor the movement of the face of the remote control 200 by the user to beon a complete plane and completely parallel to the screen of the displayD.

Accordingly, the present invention is applicable to the case in whichthe face of the remote control 200 moves on an incomplete plane and notcompletely parallel to the screen of the display D.

A user may move the face of the remote control 200 by turning only theuser's wrist while the user's arm holding the remote control 200 isfixed.

If only the user's wrist moves in an upwards or downwards direction, orto the left or right, or in a direction combining these, such as anupper leftward direction, the face of the remote control 200 may bemoved upwards, downwards, or to the left or right, or in a directioncombining these, such as an upper leftwards direction, while drawing acurved locus on a virtual hemisphere surface. FIG. 1C is a viewillustrating the case in which the face of the remote control 200 ismoved to the left by a user while drawing a curved locus on a virtualhemisphere surface.

The virtual hemisphere surface, on which the face of the remote control200 is moved by rotation of the user's wrist, may be a mathematicallyincomplete hemisphere surface. That is, it is practically impossible forthe face of the remote control 200 to be moved by rotating the user'swrist while drawing a locus on a mathematically complete hemispheresurface.

Accordingly, the present invention may be applicable to the case inwhich the face of the remote control 200 moves not on a mathematicallycomplete hemisphere, but on an incomplete hemisphere surface, whiledrawing a curved locus.

That is, the pointer P displayed on the display D may be moved by theuser spatially moving the remote control 200. The spatial movement ofthe face of the remote control 200 is distinguished from the movement ofa mouse for a personal computer (PC), which is moved over a surface.

When the face of the remote control 200 is moved, the pointer Pdisplayed on the display D moves in the same direction as the face ofthe remote control 200. For example, i) if a user moves the face of theremote control 200 upwards, the pointer P may move upwards, and ii) ifthe user moves the face of the remote control 200 to the upper-left, thepointer P may move to the upper-left.

Hereinafter, the DTV 100 and the remote control 200 illustrated in FIG.1 will be explained in detail with reference to FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is adetailed block diagram of the DTV 100 and the remote control 200.

Referring to FIG. 2, the remote control 200 comprises a movement sensor210, a transmitting unit 220, a remote control unit 230, and a key inputunit 240.

The movement sensor 210 senses the movement of the face of the remotecontrol 200 by user, and sends the result of the sensing to the remotecontrol unit 230, which will be explained in detail below. An exemplaryimplementation may use a biaxial gyro sensor as the movement sensor 210.

The key input unit 240 may comprise a power key, a channel key, a volumekey, and a select key.

The remote control unit 230 transmits information about the movement,such as the moving direction and the moving distance, which is obtainedfrom the sensing result and transmitted from the movement sensor 210 tothe TV 100 via the transmitting unit 220. The remote control unit 230also sends the TV 100 information about keys inputted by the userthrough the transmitting unit 220.

Referring to FIG. 2, the DTV 100 comprises a broadcast receiving unit110, an A/V processor 120, a Graphic User Interface (GUI) generator 130,an image output unit 140, an audio output unit 150, a controller 160,and a receiver 170.

The broadcast receiving unit 110 receives a broadcast over wire orwirelessly from a broadcasting station or a satellite, and decodes thereceived broadcast.

The A/V processor 120 executes signal processing, such as videodecoding, video scaling, and audio decoding of the broadcast outputtedfrom the broadcast receiving unit 110. And the A/V processor 120transmits the image signal to the GUI generator 130, and the audiosignal to the audio output unit 150.

The GUI generator 130 generates a GUI to display on the display D, andcombines the GUI with the image outputted from the A/V processor 120.

The image output unit 140 may display the image combining the GUIoutputted from the GUI generator 130 on the display D, or output to anexternal display, such as an external DTV connected through an externaloutput terminal (not shown).

The audio output unit 150 outputs the audio outputted from the A/Vprocessor 120 via a speaker, or outputs to the external device connectedthrough the external output terminal.

The controller 160 receives the commands inputted by user manipulationof the face of the remote control 200, or by key input which istransmitted from the remote control 200 via the receiver 170, andcontrols the overall operation of the DTV 100.

The controller 160 determines the direction of movement of the face ofthe remote control 200 based on information received through thereceiver 170, and selects a function according to the determineddirection of movement. Also, the controller controls the operation ofthe DTV 100 to conduct the selected function.

That is, the controller 160 determines the position of the pointer P,which is moved on the display D according to the spatial movement of theface of the remote control 200, and executes the function selected basedon the determined position of the pointer P. The above process isdescribed below with reference to FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a method for executing a command of auser according to a process of conducting an operation selected by aspatial movement of a remote control 200, according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, the DTV 100 receives a broadcast and displays thereceived broadcast on a display D (S300). In operation S300, the A/Vprocessor 120 processes a signal to execute a broadcast outputted fromthe broadcast receiving unit 110, and the image output unit 140 and theaudio output unit 150 respectively output a video and an audio outputtedfrom the A/V processor 120.

If the face of the remote control 200 is moved, while keeping a certainkey (for example, the select key) on the key input unit 240 of theremote control 200 inputting (S305-Y), the controller 160 determines adirection of movement of the face of the remote control 200 (S310).

If it is determined that the face of the remote control 200 is moved tothe upwards direction based on the user (S315-Y), the controller 160controls the broadcast receiving unit 110 to increase a broadcastchannel number (S320).

If the user keeps depressing the certain key (S325-Y), the controller160 repeats operation S320. An increase of the broadcast channel numberis reiteratively executed.

On the other hand, if the user removes a finger from the certain key(S325-N), process is re-executed starting from operation S300.

Hereinbelow, referring to FIGS. 4A and 4B, operations S305 to S325 areexplained in further detail. Four areas (U-area, D-area, L-area, andR-area) and the pointer P are displayed on a display D illustrated inFIG. 4A. In these figures i) the U-area is an area in which a functionto increase a broadcast channel is assigned, ii) the D-area is an areain which a function to reduce the broadcast channel is assigned, iii)the L-area is an area in which a function to reduce a volume isassigned, and iv) the R-area is an area in which a function to increasethe volume is assigned.

The four areas U-area, D-area, L-area, and R-area and the pointer P areillustrated on the display D for convenient description of an exemplaryembodiment, but the four areas U-area, D-area, L-area, and R-area andthe pointer P are not displayed on the display D while implementing theexemplary embodiment. That is, the four areas U-area, D-area, L-area,and R-area are virtual areas which do not exist on the display D, andalso the pointer P is a virtual pointer P which does not exist on thedisplay D.

In operation 305, if a user inputs a certain key on the key input unit240 of the remote control 200, the controller 160 positions the pointerP on the center of the display D, as illustrated in FIG. 4A.

In operation S305, if the user moves the face of the remote control 200to the upwards direction, with keeping a certain key being depressed,the controller 160 moves the pointer P in the U-area as illustrated inFIG. 4B. The controller 160 recognizes that the pointer P is positionedin the U-area, and the function assigned in the U-area which increasesthe broadcast channel number is executed.

The increase of the broadcast channel number remains while the usercontinues to depress the certain key. If the user removes a finger fromthe certain key, the controller 160 positions the pointer P on thecenter of the display D.

If it is determined that the face of the remote control 200 is moveddownwards based on the user (S330-Y), the controller 160 controls thebroadcast receiving unit 110 to reduce a broadcast channel number(S335).

If the user keeps depressing the certain key (S340-Y), the controller160 repeats operation S335. A reduction of the broadcast channel numberis reiteratively executed.

On the other hand, if the user removes a finger from the certain key(S340-N), process is re-executed starting from operation S300.

In operation S305, since the case in which the user moves the face ofthe remote control 200 downwards while keeping a certain key depressedis the case in which the pointer P is moved in the D-area (Referring toFIG. 4A), the controller 160 executes the function assigned in theU-area, which reduces the broadcast channel number.

Reduction of the broadcast channel number remains while the usercontinues to depress the certain key. If the user removes a finger fromthe certain key, the controller 160 positions the pointer P on thecenter of the display D.

If it is determined that the face of the remote control 200 is moved tothe leftwards direction based on the user (S345-Y), the controller 160controls the audio output unit 150 to reduce a volume (S350).

If the user keeps depressing the certain key (S355-Y), the controller160 repeats operation S350. A reduction of the volume is reiterativelyexecuted.

On the other hand, if the user removes a finger from the certain key(S355-N), operation is executed from operation S300.

In operation S305, since the case in which the user moves the face ofthe remote control 200 to the leftwards direction, while keeping acertain key depressed is the case in which the pointer P is moved in theL-area (Referring to FIG. 4A), the controller 160 executes the functionassigned in the L-area, which reduces the volume.

Reduction of the volume remains while the user continues to depress thecertain key. If the user removes a finger from the certain key, thecontroller 160 positions the pointer P on the center of the display D.

If it is determined that the face of the remote control 200 is moved tothe rightwards direction based on the user (S360-Y), the controller 160controls the audio output unit 150 to increase the volume (S365).

If the user keeps depressing the certain key (S370-Y), the controller160 repeats operation S365. An increase of the volume is reiterativelyexecuted.

On the other hand, if the user removes a finger from the certain key(S370-N), the process is re-executed starting from operation S300.

In operation S305, since the case in which the user moves the face ofthe remote control 200 to the rightwards direction while keeping acertain key depressed is the case in which the pointer P is moved in theR-area (Referring to FIG. 4A), the controller 160 executes the functionassigned in the R-area, which increases the volume.

An increase of the volume remains while the user continues to depressthe certain key. If the user removes a finger from the certain key, thecontroller 160 positions the pointer P on the center of the display D.

A method for determining the direction of spatial movement of the faceof the remote control 200 and executing a user command by executing thespecific function selected based on the determined direction of movementis described in detail below.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, anitemized guide may be displayed on the display D, offering visualindication of the functions which are designated in the respective areasof the display D. Referring to FIG. 4C, i) if a user causes the remotecontrol 200 to be moved upwards, an item “▴”+“CH-UP” is displayed on anupper side of the display D (U-area in FIG. 4A), representing anincrease of the broadcast channel number, ii) if the user causes theremote control 200 to be moved to the downwards direction, an item“▾”+“CH-DOWN” is displayed on a bottom side of the display D (D-area inFIG. 4A), representing a reduction of the broadcast channel number, iii)if the user causes the remote control 200 to be moved to the leftwardsdirection, an item “

”+“VOL-DOWN” is displayed at the left side of the display D (L-area inFIG. 4A), representing a reduction of the volume, and iv) if the usercauses the remote control 200 to be moved to the rightwards direction,an item “

”+“VOL-UP” is displayed at the right side of the display D (R-area inFIG. 4A), representing an increase of the volume.

The controller 160 controls the operation of the GUI generator 130 togenerate a GUI in which the respective items are displayed in thedesignated areas.

The areas on the display D may be defined by boundaries to more easilyguide a user. Also, an item of the function which is being currentlyexecuted may be highlighted, or an area including the function which isbeing currently executed may be highlighted.

Although the functions that increase and decrease a broadcast channelnumber and the functions increase and decrease a volume are respectivelyassigned to the U-area, D-area, L-area, and R-area in the exemplaryembodiment, this should not be construed as limiting. That is, theconcept of the present invention is equally applicable to a case whereother functions are assigned in the respective areas.

For example, a function to increase screen brightness may be implementedas an alternative function. The function to increase screen brightnessmay be assigned to the U-area, and the function to decrease screenbrightness may be assigned to the D-area.

A function to select an item, such as an input source selectionfunction, and a mode selection function may also be implemented asalternative functions. A TV input function may be assigned to theU-area, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) input function maybe assigned to the D-area, a universal serial bus (USB) input functionmay be assigned to the L-area, and a Bluetooth input function may beassigned to the R-area.

Alternatively, a TV mode function may be assigned to the U-area, a photoreproducing mode function assigned to the D-area, a moving imagereproducing mode function assigned to the L-area, and a musicreproducing mode function assigned to the R-area. The photo reproducingmode function, the moving image reproducing mode function, and the musicreproducing mode function may be provided respectively to reproduce astill image file, a moving image file, and a music file from a storagemedium in the DTV 100.

Since the input source selection function and the mode selectionfunction are not reiteratively operated, but are operated only once, thecontroller 160 may cause a corresponding operation to start as a userdepresses a key, moves the face of the remote control 200, and releasethe key from the depressed state.

Unlike the input source selection function and the mode selectionfunction, the channel change function and the volume change function maybe reiteratively operated. That is, the input source selection functionand the mode selection function are operated once, but the channelchange function and the volume change function may be reiterativelyoperated several times.

In an exemplary embodiment, certain functions are reiteratively operatedwhile a user keeps the corresponding keys depressed, but are interruptedif the user releases the keys from the depressed state. Accordingly, theconvenience of a user is improved.

Although a function is reiteratively operated if a user keeps a certainkey in a depressed state in this exemplary embodiment, the function maybe reiteratively operated as the function selection state is maintainedby an alternative manner.

For example, a function assigned to a specific area may be reiterativelyoperated if a user moves the face of the remote control 200 so that thepointer P is moved in the specific area, and then the user does not movethe face of the remote control 200 any more so that the pointer P staysat the specific area. In this case, the reiterative operation of thefunction may be interrupted if the user moves the face of the remotecontrol 200 to another direction, subsequently moving the pointer P toanother area.

FIG. 5A is a view illustrating a method for executing a command of auser according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 5A is different from FIG. 4A in that there is an M-area provided inaddition to the U-area, the D-area, the L-area, and the M-area on thedisplay D.

The M-area is different from the U-area, the D-area, the L-area, and theM-area in that no function is assigned to the M-area. Since the movementdistance of the face of the remote control 200 is short, no function isexecuted as long as the pointer P positioned on the center of thedisplay D is within the M-area.

The controller 160 determines the direction and distance of the movementof the face of the remote control 200 based on information about themovement of the face of the remote control 200 received through thereceiver 170. If the determined distance exceeds a predetermineddistance and the pointer P is moved out of the M-area by the movement ofthe face of the remote control 200, the controller 160 selects thefunction based on the determined direction of the movement, and executesthe selected function. On the other hand, if the determined distancedoes not exceed the predetermined distance, that is if the pointer Premains within the M-area despite the movement of the face of the remotecontrol 200, the controller 160 does not execute any function.

Accordingly, inadvertent executing of a function due to a slightmovement of a user is prevented.

Referring to FIG. 5A, the functions are assigned on the four areas (theU-area, the D-area, the L-area, and the R-area) of the display D, butthis is merely an exemplary embodiment for convenient description. Thenumber of areas is not limited.

For example, functions may be assigned to eight areas (UL-area, UR-area,DL-area, DR-area, LU-area, LD-area, RU-area, and RD-area) of the displayD, as illustrated in FIG. 5B. Additionally, functions may be assigned toeight areas (UU-area, UD-area, DU-area, DD-area, LL-area, LR-area,RL-area, and RR-area) of the display D, as illustrated in FIG. 5C. TheM-area is an area to which a function is not assigned in FIGS. 5B and5C.

A method for arranging areas is not limited to a radial pattern asillustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5C. An alternative arrangement may be used.An example of the alternative arrangement of the function areas isillustrated in FIG. 5D.

If the areas are arranged as illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 5D, when a userselects a function, the controller 160 also considers the distance ofmovement of the face of the remote control 200, in addition to thedirection of movement.

Although the exemplary embodiments have described the TV as an exampleof the broadcast receiving apparatus, the broadcast receivingapparatuses may be implemented as a set top box (STB), a digitalmultimedia broadcast (DMB) receiving apparatus, and a portable apparatuswith a built-in module for receiving broadcast, such as a mobile phonewith a built-in module for receiving DMB.

Hereinbelow, yet another exemplary embodiment of the present inventionwill be described in detail referring to FIGS. 6 and 7.

Referring to FIG. 6, an image apparatus 600 according to yet anotherexemplary embodiment of the present invention may include a receiver 610and a controller 620. The image apparatus 600 may be connected with auser input device 650 to transmit and receive information.

The receiver 610 receives information on movement of the user inputdevice 650 which is movable by a user, from the user input device 650.

The controller 620 determines the direction of movement of the userinput device 650, selects one of a plurality of functions based on thedetermined direction of movement, and executes the selected function.

According to a method for executing a user command illustrated in FIG.7, the controller 620 determines the direction of movement of the userinput device 650 which is moved by a user (S710). The controller 620selects one of the plurality of functions based on the determineddirection of movement (S720). The controller 620 executes the selectedfunction (S730).

Hereinbelow, yet another exemplary embodiment of the present inventionwill be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

Referring to FIG. 8, an image system according to yet another exemplaryembodiment of the present invention may include an image apparatus 800and a user input device 850. The user input device 850 may be movable bya user.

The image apparatus 800 determines the position of the pointer P, whichis moved according to the movement of the user input device 850 on thedisplay D, selects one of a plurality of functions based on thedetermined position of the pointer P, and executes the selectedfunction.

According to a method for executing a user command illustrated in FIG.9, the image apparatus 800 determines the position of the pointer P,which is moved according to movement of the user input device 850 on thedisplay D (S910). The image apparatus 800 selects one of the pluralityof functions based on the determined position of the pointer P (S920).The image apparatus 800 executes the selected function (S930).

The user command may be executed by executing the function which isselected based on the direction of spatial movement by the user.

According to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention asdescribed above, a user command which is determined based on the spatialmovement of the user input device may be executed. Because a usercommand may be inputted by an alternative method without requiring a keymanipulation, a more diverse and convenient way of inputting commands isprovided. Also, a user input device may be miniaturized.

Further, the foregoing embodiments and advantages are merely exemplaryand are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. Thepresent teaching can be readily applied to other types of apparatuses.Also, the description of the embodiments of the present invention isintended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims,and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent tothose skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:
 1. A broadcasting signal processing apparatuscomprising: a display; a broadcasting signal receiver configured toreceive broadcasting signal; a receiver configured to receive, from aninput device, first information about a movement of the input device andsecond information indicating whether a predetermined button on theinput device is pressed; and a controller configured to control thedisplay to display an image based on the received broadcasting signal,in response to determining that the predetermined button on the inputdevice is in a pressed state while displaying the image, to control thedisplay to display a plurality of visual guide items representing aplurality of functions of the broadcasting signal processing apparatusfor guiding a user how to move the input device to select a functionamong the plurality of functions, to determine a movement direction of apointing position while the predetermined button of the input device isin the pressed state based on the first and the second information, andin response to determining that the predetermined button is releasedfrom the pressed state, to execute a function among the plurality offunctions based on the movement direction of the pointing position. 2.The broadcasting signal processing apparatus claim 1, wherein thecontroller is further configured to execute the function among theplurality of functions in response to determining that a distance of themovement of the pointing position in the pressed state in which thepredetermined button of the input device is pressed is greater than apredetermined distance.
 3. The broadcasting signal processing apparatusof claim 2, wherein the second information indicates whether thepredetermined button of the input device is continuously pressed.
 4. Thebroadcasting signal processing apparatus of claim 1, wherein thefunction comprises one of a broadcast channel change function, a volumechange function, an input source selection function, a mode selectionfunction, a screen brightness adjustment function, and an item selectionfunction.
 5. The broadcasting signal processing apparatus claim 1 ,wherein the controller is further configured to control the display todiscontinue displaying the plurality of visual items in response todetermining that the predetermined button of the input device isreleased from the pressed state based on the second information.